Keep the Pride Out

Many years ago a successful man was ask, "What is the biggest hindrance when it comes to ministry (we could say leadership). " His answer was, "Pride."

He was not speaking of confidence, self esteem, or excellency, he was speaking of Poison pride, arrogance; a haughty nature. That of which a person esteems themselves more highly than they should.

The BIG "I" guys. Those who are never concerned with the well being of the overall whole. The ones who just can't seem to get enough of themselves. The all about me babes. Perhaps those descriptive statements will allow you to see in the minds eye the kind of Pride I am speaking of today.

Pride always comes before a fall, but for those who walk respectful of the Lord and others leading from the bases of His wisdom; Wisdom that is drawn out of agape Love, will find that their path is extremely bright.

Pr 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Let me also add here the message translation of Proverbs 8:12-21 as it speaks volumes.

"I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity;
Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street.

The Fear-of-God means hating Evil,
whose ways I hate with a passion—
pride and arrogance and crooked talk.

Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics;
I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out.

With my help, leaders rule,
and lawmakers legislate fairly;

With my help, governors govern,
along with all in legitimate authority.

I love those who love me;
those who look for me find me.

Wealth and Glory accompany me—
also substantial Honor and a Good Name.

My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary;
the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus.

You can find me on Righteous Road—that's where I walk—
at the intersection of Justice Avenue,
Handing out life to those who love me,
filling their arms with life—armloads of life!

I could say Amen right here and be done with this blog. But let us look at a neighborhood ruled by love and wisdom just for fun. We will begin on the street Wisdom is being housed. This is the place of the sage. The house of the all wise one. Here freely wisdom is given ... and with it understanding accompanies. ~ James 1:5

In the book of Acts when leaders were begin sought out, they were not looking for the prideful and haughty filled with the Holy Spirit. They were looking for those full of the Holy Spirit and Wisdom. They were looking for seasoned people.

In I Timothy 3:6 we find that a Novice is not to be put in office. Why? Because being new and unseasoned they were susceptible to pride, and then condemnation.

A novice is defined as a beginner, one that has not given themselves long to study and practice. Those who have not walked abased and then in abundance yet remaining of the same even godly character among men. The Greek uses the idea of being a seedling. One in the state of germination, but still not well rooted or fruit producing.

On the street where Wisdom lives we also find Sanity, Knowledge and Discretion. Without Wisdom a leader does not lead sanely. Sanity insures proper reasoning, soundness of mind (self control / personal discipline and good judgment.

As Paul continued to write letters to young Timothy training him in his new found leadership role. We find that he addresses him in the area of the fear of those first time leadership obstacles. When he tells Him. Timothy, keep the gift of God stirred up in you. God did not give you a Spirit of fear, but of POWER, and of LOVE, and a SOUND MIND.

At the house of Knowledge we find the ability to Know some things from experience and associations. It is a house awake, aware and perceptive. Awake to truth, Aware of the unseen realm and perceptive to the nature of men.

Where knowledge is, destruction is thwart. Where knowledge lives, the respect for God and others have preceded it.

The house of knowledge is a bright place welcoming good understanding. Understanding that has came from knowing the truth.

The House of knowledge is a place of liberation, because knowing the truth makes a person free. It is also a place of keen discernment, able to understand what kind of spirit is dwelling within a person. To have insights into the deeper part of men.

And right down the road from knowledge is Discretion. Discretion is the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. It is the ability to decide what needs to be done in a situation to resolve, keeping down embarrassment.

The proverbs is a wonderful teaching offered by the Spirit of God through men of old. A Manuel of if you will for the young and/or unlearned to learn the ropes of life.

Prov. 1:1-6
A Manual for Living ^{~ Message translation}

These are the wise sayings of Solomon,
David's son, Israel's king—
Written down so we'll know how to live well and right,
to understand what life means and where it's going;

A manual for living,
for learning what's right and just and fair;
To teach the inexperienced the ropes
and give our young people a grasp on reality.

There's something here also for seasoned men and women,
still a thing or two for the experienced to learn—
Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate,
the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.


In this seemingly utopia neighborhood good counsel rules and the winds of common sense refreshes. Love rules this neighborhood and right living causes it to be wealthy and show forth Glory.

Therefore, pride and arrogance is hated with a passion, crooked talk is not allowed in this fruitful village, as it would destroy it's beneficial style of living ... that of life and that more abundantly.

Lu 17:21
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Be Clothed in Humility

Judgmental attitudes result from a prideful (haughty) nature, a nature outside of the realm of love. When someone is judging another person they are escalating their opinions and ideals among those judged. And in doing so they are setting themselves up for a fall. But those who are clothed with humility will find themselves reigning in life.
David Rhodes said: Pride is the dandelion of the soul (mind, will and emotions). Its root goes deep; only a little left behind sprouts again. Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks ...

Pride dealt with as dealing with weeds in ones precious blossoming garden. Pride given place will take over all that is good and lovely in ones soul. It's attribute of judgment will then destroy anything in it's wake that is not strong enough in love to withstand it.

Pride has caused many individuals, corporations, and individuals to fall. While the nation, company, man who walks humbly finds much grace to build upon.

From the prophet Obadiah we find that pride brought down the entire nation of Edom. In reading from Obadiah's writings we see that pride will leave us broke financially, friendless and stabbed in the back by those who deceptively pretending to be friends. We also see that pride attacks one's physical body and mental well being. And before long the prideful, will be broken down and left lying in decay upon the ground.

Many times pride as one gives it place begins by working subtly, but soon becomes more and more aggressive. As one's pride left unchecked strikes the relationship of men, they often turn to additions to ease their pain, instead of simply admitting their personal need for change. Loosing their relationships completely they the additions often increase and thus fiances are attacked and quickly consumed.

Pride (haughtiness) has no place in the kingdom of love and should be given no place within any human being. It holds no good.

So many times men start out meaning well, they begin a relationship, a business or organization with the best at heart. They want to make it in life, they want to provide for themselves and others, they want to make a change in the World. But then the flesh nature that feeds off of compliments, accomplishments and success begins to rise up until the carnal nature begins to take presidency over Spirit truths, as it hungers for more and more.This is not to say one should not rise to their limits and beyond, but in doing so it is imperative that the soul is kept in check with the Spirit.

John 15:1-8
^1-3 "I am the Real Vine and my Father (Spirit/God) is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

⁴"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

^5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

Here we find that in order to continue to bring forth fruit (a good life, bearing good things), we must continue to live our life in the Spirit. Allowing the Spirit to led and not our flesh nature. We must keep our Soul in check with the Spirit if we are to live truly successful, happy and productive lives. We have to walk in the Spirit and communicate with Spirit in order to keep our Soul and physical appetites under.

• When one walks humbly ... honor comes.
• When one walks humbly ... grace abounds.
• When one walks humbly ... they will be lifted up to higher levels.

~ James 4:6 (10); IPeter 5:5-6.
The Dalai lama said:

• Pride leads to violence and evil. The truly good gaze upon everything with love and understanding. ...
• Love is the absence of judgment.

Jesus said:

~ Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

The Word of God:
Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
~ Apostle Paul

When we live our lives in moderation, keeping our minds on the right things; When we live from a meditative prayerful stance of giving thanks always, we walk in peace.

Don't allow Pride to bring you to a judgmental nature.
Don't let it cause you to fall.
Refuse to give pride place in your life, instead walk (live) in the Spirit of love toward God and men. Allow true humility to reign!

Pr 15:33
The respect of the LORD (your spiritual self existence) is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.
Pr 18:12
Before destruction the heart of man is (prideful) haughty, and before honor is humility.
Pr 22:4
By humility and the respect of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
*humility ... keeping the mind in it's proper place.

If there is any honor let it be as we keep our minds in the proper place and in love serve one.

Change Begins With Choice

Have you ever be around someone and you knew they needed to make changes in their life? But they refuse to take any steps toward that change, and yet they complain daily about their life. Maybe, that person is or has even been you.







Change is not always welcomed and often rejected. If you were change ... you would soon have a complex. And yet change is on going. Things around us are changing regularly, our bodies are changing as you are reading this article. Change happens. It enters whether the door for it is opened or not. It doesn't care how many times it is rejected. It still shows up ready to either hinder or compliment our lives.

Sudden negative change can be devastating. It can take time to repair the damage it brings. But change when it is accepted is much like anything else accepted, a transformation begins for good. Resist it and it seems to continue to cause havoc.

Then there is a time when change needs to be called upon, to aide us in betterment. At this point unless change is embraced and welcomed it seems to stand off and wait for you to open the door.

Any day we wish we can embrace change. Change begins with choice. Our lives revolves around not only change, but choice. People love to blame. They blame others, situations, luck, God or the stars. But Shakespeare said it well when he said, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves."

As long as we blame someone or something, there is no personal responsibility or accountability.
And without taking responsibility and being accountable our lives lie in ruin.

In a world full of resources and knowledge there is no reason for us not to do and be all that we desire. However, we can not despise the days of small beginnings. We begin. And from that beginning we commit to faithfulness, which will carry us to a larger and brighter future.

There is a vastness of knowledge out there, and knowledge is key to building better lives.

Hosea the prophet said:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Amazing that even God says through the prophet Hosea that he will reject us if we reject knowledge. God does not want his people to be ignorant. And yet so many use religion as a means to remain dull.

Too many times people who do not want to work, use the excuse that Money is the root of evil (which of course is a misquote and error to begin with), or they use scripture text to justify their laziness or lack of responsibility and accountability. But all that God is cries out for his people to prosper and be healthy; to be wise and responsible. To walk in love and coexist with one another in peace.

John Rohn made a statement that bears repetition.
"We can pretend, rather than perform."

Pretend:
"To give a false appearance of being, possessing, or performing"

To pretend rather than perform is to live a life of deception, and anyone who is foolish enough to follow such a person ends up in the same dark ditch of being nothing and having nothing, while doing nothing.

Change requires performance; active choices. Change requires you to embrace it and move with it. You can not pretend things are different and get results, you must do something different to get something different!

Transformation

George Bernard Shaw ~
Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

Romans 12:2 Paul ~
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


The word transformed in context with Romans 12:2 … means not to fashion yourself after the world.

In other words don’t try to fit into the worlds mold … fashioned by others ideas, thoughts or formulas.

Instead be transformed (changed) by the renewing of your mind (of yourself) … (your intellect, your understanding, feelings and will … the complete you) … that you may prove (allow, try, examine) what is that good and acceptable and perfect will (choice, inclination) of God.

If you want the same results, keep doing things the same way.

What you have done up until now has brought you to where you are. Keep doing the same thing and you will get the same results.

Now if you are happen with the way you are, if you are doing what you want to do in life, and you have all that you want to have out of life … just keep on doing what you are doing.

But …

If you want to move on to the next level of faith, the next level of Glory.
If you want to know God better, and in so know yourself and others better.

If you want to do more than you are doing; have more than you have in life; be more than you are; … some things have to change … the first being your thinking (or the changing of your mind).

Now before you take a ride on the Old I’ve heard all this before train … go with me to the House of the Potter.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 ~
1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
Unfortunately we each have been molded by hands that err. At the very best performance we are marred in the hand of the potter and need to be re-molded (reinvented) in order to be what God created each of us to be individually.


Each of us had a different childhood. We were molded by parents, grandparents or the lack thereof … molded by teachers, neighbors, friends, Sunday school teachers, Ministers, Literature, Music … you get the idea.

We each had different experiences, different relationships, different health issues, different levels of prosperity or poverty, different trauma.

We were even taught about how the World works and how it should be. We were taught about how God is and how we should live.

And all these things have build a philosophy (so to speak) within our minds of the way things are and how our lives should be … the way WE should be.

By acting on these Philosophies we have gotten results accordingly (good or bad).
If we have rebelled against the philosophies, we have walked in the results of the rebellion, but then carried the baggage of guilt around with us like a bag of bricks.

Col. 2:8 ~
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.


Many things have been taught in the earth and many will be taught. But in these many teachings are flaws. Flaws that leave people marred, broken, or at the verge of cracking.
Some of the negative philosophies may go like this:

• It’s a dog eat dog world.
• You can’t trust anyone.
• People are just out for what they can get.
• You’ve got to take the bitter with the sweet.
• It’s a man’s world.
• Women should be kept barefoot and pregnant.
• You can’t have it your way all the time.
• It anything bad could happen … it would happen to me.
• I’m just not a lucky person … if it weren’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.
• The devil made me do it.
• If anything can go wrong it will.
• You just can’t do anything right.
• You won’t ever amount to much
• Money is the root of all evil.
• God doesn’t want you having things.
• It isn’t God’s will to heal everyone

Can you think of other negative remarks that have molded people as the potters wheel spins.


Now … on the positive side maybe you have heard things like:

• People are generally good.
• Every cloud has a silver lining.
• I expect good every day.
• You should see the good in every person.
• God watches out for me.
• God is good.
• Jesus loves me.
• You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you.
• Nothing is to hard for you and God.
• You can do what every you set your head and heart to.
• You have a can do spirit!
• I see you doing great things.
• God has such good plans for your life!

Now it would be best to be on the positive side of the mold.
However, even at that, there is still a best to acquire.

That is why we must go to God and be renewed in the spirit of our minds daily, and come up the new man each day.

Eph. 4:23-24 ~
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


God wants us to put on the new man … the man who walks in truth and liberty. Not after the rudiments of World (base arrangements and false religions); After vain deceit of men.

Not after those who follow after moons and feast; Sabbaths and Holy days. Not eating this or drinking that. Not after Horoscopes, microscopes or empty and futile doctrines or empty religious laws.

You can read all these as you study.
Col. Chapter 2; Ro. 14:2-3,5,10,13,17; 1Co. 8:8; and Gal. 4:10.

The old nature resist these changes that lean toward liberty and the New Testament life. Religion resist this teaching as well.

That is why so many people still live in bondage. Bondage of works.
This is why so many people die young, walk with sickness and disease in their bodies, live a poverty stricken life, never smile or laugh and drag around with empty lives.

For these very reasons, men and women are not free to be who they are called to be. To be who they truly want to be.

They just can’t seem to grasp God’s truth because their old renewed mind tells them something different. Their deceiving philosophies keep them bound.

For instance:
You will hear some religious teachings say … “if it be God’s will he will heal you.” No it is God’s will to heal who ever will believe him for it. Have faith … and it is the victory every time.

Another for instance is:
It is not God’s will for everyone to be prosperous. Really? Of course it is. He is no respecter of persons.
I did not say everyone would be wealthy or acquire wealth. I merely told you the truth that God wills for you to be prosperous.

How about this:
God never intended women to preach, or men are not suppose to raise children. Neither are true.

Mary was a woman and carried the first resurrection message. Paul wrote letters to the church and not just to men:
II John 1:1 ~ to the elder, the elect lady of the church and her children.
That was a female heading up the church.

Mordecai raised his niece Esther, and did such a good job that she landed a seat in the palace next to the King and became instrumental in the saving of an entire nation.

Most people have never became aware of the power of these deceitful philosophies shaping their lives … they are unaware of how they have led and guided these vain rudiments and traditions.

This unaware “state of stupor” … this sleeping state … has kept people from God’s best (from his will for their lives). It has kept them for the good life … the higher life.

It has left them in a miserable state of can’t do this, don’t do that living.

It has left them on this side of the river Jordan, so to speak, and out of the promised land where life is good!

We are to be led by the Spirit.
We are to allow the Spirit to go beyond the mental arena of these philosophies and trust God!

Proverbs 3:5-6 ~
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.


When you begin to do this … your life will begin to be transformed.

To be transformed is to be changed from the low life to the high life.
You leave the old crawl in the dirt mentality, to the fly high and live colorful mentality.

You let go of customs, cultures, traditions, vain rudiments, deceitful philosophies, egos and false religions that are a mere forms of godliness without power.

II Cor. 3:17 ~
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Listen to me when I tell you that God is all powerful! There is none like Him.
He is all in all.

Word = God = Power!
To walk in the truth of God’s Word is to walk in light … is to walk in power!

John 1:1-4
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light (illumination, fire, power, energy) of men.


You and God are one … Just as Jesus and the Father was one … so we in Christ Jesus are also one together with him in the Father.

The very same Power that raised Christ from the Dead dwells in you and I and quickens our mortal bodies.

• The most powerful source that ever was or will be lives in YOU!
• The creator lives in YOU!
• Power lives in YOU!
• Light lives in YOU!
• Truth that sets free lives in YOU!

Jesus said, “I AM … the truth, the life, the way!”


He also said, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." ~John 8:12

But then in Mt 5:14 He said, “YOU are the light of the world!”
We must get beyond our old way of thinking and think POWERFULLY.
We must begin to walk in the Freedom purchased for us by the blood of Jesus … not a freedom unto sin … but a freedom unto the uniqueness of our individuality and of a power supply that comes with it.

Jesus told us that when he left … he would send us one just like himself.
The Holy Ghost … Spirit of Power.

Lu 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with Power from on high.

• So walk in that Power.
• Live by that Power.
• Allow that Power to work in and through you.

Offense

Central Truths:
Offenses are serious issues; They are Satan’s death grip on our lives.
The love of God is the antidote for offense.

Key Text:
Matthew 16:23
Matthew 18:6

The word offense from Webster defines like this:

• Something that causes one to stumble or sin
• Something that outrages the moral or physical senses
• The act of attacking or assaulting
• The act of attempting to score
• The state of being outraged

Another defines it like this:

• A lack of respect or politeness
• Wounding others feelings
• Showing no consideration or courtesy
• A Law breaking act

And the Greek calls it:

• Error
• Occasion of stumbling
• Sin

When I think of offenses I think of a deadly poison, that gets into the body very stealthily like anthrax.

Anthrax is a deadly bacteria that grows and spreads once you come into contact with it.
Anthrax spores can be delivered in powder form packaged very enticingly.
Anthrax can be ground and delivered in powder form that may not even be recognized.

Once you come into contact with Anthrax … the spores will lay in your body like seed. Those spores can even lay there seeming to do nothing for 1-60 days and then suddenly there is a break out of effects ... "deadly effects."

Larger Anthrax spores lodge in the throat and windpipe, affecting the speech and breath of our life source.

The immune system tries to push out the poison, but just can not do it alone. These spores want to destroy you, they may seem passive, but they are aggressive in nature.

Amazingly enough they actually have a mission, and that mission is to go after the blood. The life source.

Offense is such a serious matter, that Jesus directly looked beyond Peter to the source of the offense to deal with it.

Satan is the at the root of all offense.

Matthew 16:23 KJV
Jesus, turned and said unto Peter. Get thee behind me Satan. Thou art and offense unto me. For thou Savourest not the things of God, but those that be of men.

The God Word Translation says this:
Jesus turned and said to Peter … Get out of my way Satan. You are tempting me to sin. You are not thinking the way God thinks, but the way humans think.

Notice Jesus first "looked and said to Peter …"
But then in the middle of the clause … Jesus addressed Satan.
Then he resumes speaking to Peter.
Take note here … Jesus was dealing with Satan and the offense … But He was teaching Peter (feeding him in love).


Peter from the un-renewed portion of his thinking (mind) was talking to Jesus, and it was from that place Satan had an opportunity to bring an offense.

Satan can only work through people who deliver …
either knowingly or unknowingly.

Back in 2001 there was a serious of anthrax scares . A culprit (much like Satan) would take that deadly poison hat had been growing in their world, and put it in a package to be delivered. The person carrying the package may never realize they are carrying it around … but they are … and delivering it to.

Once that package is delivered it can be deadly. Not only to the recipient but also to the carrier who had previously been exposed to it.

Offense like Anthrax comes to destroy, and it wants above all else to first destroy our faith.

Faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of things unseen. And if we allow an offense in our life … it will begin to deteriorate our faith … as our faith deteriorates there is nothing to give substance to our hope … and soon hope too is lost. Leaving us as walking dead men, good for nothing but the fire.
Offenses taken are destructive, but offenses also effect the carrier.

Matthew 18:1-10 ~ God Word translation
¹At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

²He called a little child and had him stand among them. ³Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.

⁶“These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck. ⁷How horrible it will be for the world because it causes people to lose their faith. Situations that cause people to lose their faith will arise. How horrible it will be for the person who causes someone to lose his faith!

⁸“If your hand or your foot causes you to lose your faith, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life disabled or injured than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire. ⁹If your eye causes you to lose your faith, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire.

¹⁰“Be careful not to despise these little ones. I can guarantee that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father, who is in heaven.

Those who would offend a little one causing them to loose faith ... the bible says it is better a mill stone be hanged around their neck and they be drowned in the depth of the sea.

This is such a serious matter that Jesus uses a simile to share the depth of his concern.

If your hand or foot causes you to loose faith …. Cut it off. If it is your eye … pluck it out.

Now Jesus is not suggesting that you cut your limbs off or pluck out your eye.
He is just saying … this is very serious and if you have something in the body that is of an offensive nature … get it out.
Why?
Because it will keep you from entering life … it will cause you to suffer hells fires.

Matthew here in Chapter 18 even suggest that the angels are watching and aware of offense. And they are ready to respond to God’s Word concerning any one that is touched by such an offender.

Another thing I notice here is the beginning of the text. The disciples were very interested in who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. That is the nature of Satan already at work.

That is what got him kicked out of heaven to begin with … He wanted to be lifted up above God himself.

Many times people will jump from church to church because of offense in leadership. They want to tell the Pastor what to do, and if they can’t they are either are put out to protect the body or they leave offended.

When they go to another place … they soon try to lord it over the leadership there and find themselves again in the same position unless they deal with the problem that is within them.

Satan can bring Offense through many doors.
Doors like:

• anger
• jealousy
• pride
• fear (insecurity)
• hate such as racism or gender issues
• greed
• minds left un-renewed
• lack of knowledge.

This is just naming a few doors that swing wide for offense to enter.

Peter had a problem like that … his was an un-renewed mind. He thought things art to be dealt with differently than Jesus (who was his mentor at that time). So he spoke out of turn, and Jesus correct him. And He dealt with Satan all at one time.
He did this so the offense did not continue to poison Peter or get into other lives. And so it would not take root in him (remember Jesus was still living as man at this time).

In worse case scenarios the offender will go around and pour his poison (offense) into others and draw a group to himself. They follow unaware that they are all being lead away by the devil.

These people become like rabid dogs … they seem nice enough one minute and the next they are ready to tear you apart. They are sick. They need help. But they have to be willing to do their part to be better. Just at the immune system can not rid the body of anthrax alone, neither can the Holy Ghost rid you of offense … you have to do your part.

The Holy Ghost like the immune system is at work in you and wants you to be free. He is at work, but he is our Helper and we too have a part. That part is to choose love over offense. To let go of the offense.

James told us that if we did not offend in word we were perfect (mature). Lets read that chapter.

James 3 message translation

^1-2Don't be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

^3-5A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

^5-6It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

^7-10This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

^10-12My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?

Live Well, Live Wisely

^13-16Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

^17-18Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Peter was one of those cutting, cussing, fire breathing Christians at this time. He was not perfect.

He would cut your ear off in a heart beat, or run from Jesus, to warm himself by some worldly fire … cussing the whole time.

But because he had a heart after God, he continued to stick it out.
Finally … He heard something.
"Peter do you love me?"
Lord you know I love you.
"Feed my Sheep"
"Peter do you love me?"
Lord you know I do
"Feed my Sheep"
"Peter DO YOU LOVE ME?"
Lord you know me …
"Feed my Sheep"


Peter may have well said, You found me out Jesus … I have been an offense to you.
I have been offended by you.
I have hurt others with my offenses.
I have not been feeding the sheep. But out of my zeal and from my offense, I have been destroying them unaware.


Peter received what Jesus said, and continued to follow and mature in his faith walk and grow to the place of being able to properly feed the sheep.
The bible says in Luke 17:1
It is impossible that no offenses should come.

Offenses will come … but how you deal with them will determine your outcome.

Yes, offense will come … and you will have emotions with those offenses. But it is how you deal with those emotions that will make the difference.

If you don’t deal properly the offense is deadly.

If you deal properly … the offense can turn to work toward your own maturity in the faith … moving you on to the next level.

As we mature … we act differently than babies who are not yet developed. As the mature we process and deal with matters rather than harbor or thrash away at them.

When we are immature we may harbor an offense … in other words we will lock it inside and roll around with it every now and then and allow those emotions to rise up in us like waves of evil. Or … if we are a thrasher … we will start thrashing as one who can not swim will in deep waters and soon find ourselves either drowning or as a cast away … removed from the body.

When we mature we put away childishness. We put away harboring and learn to deal with waves of emotions and offenses. We learn to walk in unfailing love.

Love is the antidote to offense.
Works every time!